Fishing apparatus and method

ABSTRACT

A fishing apparatus includes a submersible central pole having a first end and also a weighted, second end. Floatable hinged ribs radiate from the first end of the central pole. Fabric disposed on the floatable hinged ribs becomes stretched over the floatable hinged ribs as the ribs go from a collapsed disposition adjacent the central pole to an open disposition radiating outwardly from the first end of the central pole.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the priority of U.S. Application No. 61/526,358filed Aug. 23, 2011.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to sport fishing and more particularly to anapparatus and method for attracting fish.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known in the art relating to sport fishing to fish in areas ofcover such as weed beds, rocks, reefs and the like to increase thepossibility of catching fish. When ice fishing, however, it is oftendifficult or impossible to locate these areas of cover.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a portable apparatus that can be used toprovide an area of cover within a body of water to provide fish withtheir preferred habitat.

More specifically the apparatus includes a central pole and hinged ribsradiating from one end of the central pole. The pole may be telescopingor formed from two or more pieces to allow for an adjustable polelength. A fabric is disposed on the hinged ribs and becomes stretchedover the hinged ribs as the apparatus goes from a collapsed dispositionto an open disposition.

The other end of the central pole is weighted to allow the apparatus tosink to a bottom surface of a body of water. The hinged ribs may befloatable or include floats disposed thereon to allow the apparatus toassume the open position when submerged in the water. A line isoperatively attached to the one end of the central pole for bringing theapparatus up from a submerged disposition. When submerged, theadjustable length of the central pole allows selective adjustment of thedistance the hinged ribs and stretched fabric float above the bottom.

A method of using the apparatus includes placing the apparatus in a bodyof water wherein the apparatus sinks to the bottom. As the apparatusdescends from the weight of the weighted central pole, the hinged ribsopen and the fabric is stretched. The stretched fabric establishes anarea of cover for fish. Fishing is conducted beyond the perimeter of thestretched fabric.

When ice fishing, a hole is established in the ice to insert theapparatus into the water below the ice. The weighted end of the centralpole is put through the ice and the other end of the line connected tothe central pole is retained above. Fishing holes may be drilled in theice beyond the perimeter of the stretched fabric for fishing lines.After fishing, the apparatus is brought to the surface by pulling on theline. As the apparatus ascends, the hinged ribs resume the collapseddisposition.

In an exemplary embodiment, baits such as decoy fish may be suspendedfrom or attached to the apparatus to facilitate luring fish to thestructure.

These and other features and advantages of the invention will be morefully understood when taken together with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fishing apparatus in accordance withthe present invention in an open disposition illustrating a centralpole, hinged ribs and fabric disposed on the ribs;

FIG. 2 is an upright view of the fishing apparatus in a closeddisposition of the fabric and ribs; and

FIG. 3 is an environmental view illustrating use of the fishingapparatus while ice fishing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings in detail, numeral 10 generally indicatesa fishing apparatus in accordance with the present invention. Thefishing apparatus 10 is a portable and easy-to-use apparatus thatprovides an area of cover within a body of water to attract fish forcatching.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the fishing apparatus 10 includes asubmersible central pole 12 having a first end 14 and an opposite,weighted second end 16. The central pole 12 may be of multiple piececonstruction. For example, the central pole 12 may include two jointedpole pieces 18, 20 that are held together by a shock cord retainer 22.Alternatively, the pole pieces may be arranged in a telescopingrelationship. The multiple piece construction of the central pole allowsthe central pole to be collapsed for easier storage and transportationof the fishing apparatus. The second end 16 of the central pole 12 mayinclude a feature such as a point 24 or similar to maintain placement ofthe fishing apparatus on a bottom surface as described in more detailbelow. The second end 16 may also be weighted to further maintainplacement of the fishing apparatus during use.

Floatable hinged ribs 26 radiate from the first end 14 of the centralpole 12. The ribs 26 may have a tapered shape that tapers outwardly froman end 28 hinged to the central pole 12 to a distal end 30. The ribs 26may be formed of a floatable material to facilitate moving the fishingapparatus underwater from a closed disposition to an open disposition.Alternatively, and as shown, the ribs 26 have an optional/additionalfloats 32 attached to their respective distal ends 30. The floats 32 areof a closed-cell construction so as not to compress under waterpressure.

Fabric 34 is disposed on and connected to the floatable hinged ribs 26.The fabric 34 may be made of a plastics material or other similarlysuitable material that is capable of being submersed in water, i.e. thatpreferably absorbs little to no water. The fabric 34 becomes stretchedover the floatable hinged ribs 26 as the ribs go from a collapseddisposition adjacent the central pole 12 (as shown in FIG. 2) to an opendisposition radiating outwardly from the first end 14 of the centralpole (as shown in FIG. 1).

Optionally, a line 36 may be attached to the first end 14 of the centralpole 12. A user can grasp the line to pull the fishing apparatus 10 upto the water surface from a submerged disposition when it is desired toremove the fishing apparatus from the water.

Turning to FIG. 3, in order to use the fishing apparatus 10 for icefishing, a hole 38 is first established in the ice 40 to provide apassageway for inserting the fishing apparatus into the water 42 belowthe ice. The second end 16 of the central pole 12 is then put throughthe hole 38 in the ice with the central pole generally being kept in avertical disposition (second end 16 at the bottom and first end 14 atthe top), and the line 36 connected to the other end 14 of the centralpole is retained above the ice. Once the fishing apparatus 10 issubmerged in the water, the second end 16 of the central pole 12 sinkstowards the bottom 44 of the body of water. The second end 16 may beweighted to facilitate the sinking of the fishing apparatus. As thecentral pole 12 descends, the ribs 26 float outwardly away from thecentral pole to stretch the fabric 34 and thereby open a canopy formedby the fabric. When the central pole 12 contacts the bottom 44, thepoint 24 in the second end 16 pierces the bottom surface to secure thefishing apparatus in place. The end of the line 36 above the water maybe tied to a weight 50 or other stationary object to keep the end of theline from falling through the hole 38.

The stretched fabric 34 establishes an area of cover for fish 52 toprovide the fish with their preferred habitat. Interchangeable baits 54such as decoy fish may be suspended from or attached to the ribs 26and/or fabric 34 of the apparatus 10 to facilitate luring fish 52 to thearea of cover underneath the structure. A fishing hole 46 is drilled inthe ice 40 beyond the perimeter of the stretched fabric 34 for insertionof a fishing line 48 into the water 42. An ice fisher drops the fishingline 48 through the fishing hole 46 and catches fish 52 that have beenlured to and are swimming in the vicinity of the fishing apparatus 10.

After fishing, the apparatus 10 is brought back to the ice 40 surface bypulling on the line 36. As the apparatus 10 ascends, the force of thewater 42 against the upper surface of the fabric 34 causes the hingedribs 26 to resume the collapsed disposition adjacent the central pole12. The apparatus 10 is removed from the water by pulling the centralpole 12 through the hole 38.

Although the invention has been described by reference to a specificembodiment, it should be understood that numerous changes may be madewithin the spirit and scope of the inventive concepts described.Accordingly, it is intended that the invention not be limited to thedescribed embodiment, but that it have the full scope defined by thelanguage of the following claims.

1. Fishing apparatus comprising: a submersible central pole having afirst end and also a weighted, second end; floatable hinged ribsradiating from the first end of the central pole; and fabric disposed onthe floatable hinged ribs that becomes stretched over the floatablehinged ribs as the ribs go from a collapsed disposition adjacent thecentral pole to an open disposition radiating outwardly from the firstend of the central pole.
 2. The fishing apparatus of claim 1 including aline attached to the first end of the central pole for bringing theapparatus up to water surface from a submerged disposition.
 3. Thefishing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second end of the central poleincludes a feature to maintain placement on a bottom surface.
 4. Thefishing apparatus of claim 3 wherein the feature to maintain placementon a bottom surface is a point.
 5. The fishing apparatus of claim 1wherein the central pole is of multiple-piece construction.
 6. Thefishing apparatus of claim 5 wherein the multiple-piece constructionincludes a plurality of pole pieces and a shock cord retainer.
 7. Thefishing apparatus of claim 5 wherein the multiple-piece constructionincludes a plurality of pole pieces that telescope.
 8. The fishingapparatus of claim 1 wherein the floatable hinged ribs comprisefloatable material.
 9. The fishing apparatus of claim 8 wherein thefloatable hinged ribs have a tapered shape tapering outwardly from anend hinged to the central pole to the distal end of the floatable hingedrib.
 10. The fishing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the floatable hingedribs include floats attached to the ribs.
 11. The fishing apparatus ofclaim 1 wherein the fabric comprises plastics material.
 12. The fishingapparatus of claim 1 including baits suspended from one of the fabricand floatable hinged ribs.
 13. A method of attracting fish includes thesteps of: hingedly connecting a plurality of floatable ribs to a firstend of a submersible central pole, the central pole also having anopposite, weighted second end; disposing fabric on the floatable hingedribs; submerging the central pole in a body of water; and as the centralpole sinks towards the bottom, the fabric becomes stretched over thefloatable hinged ribs as the ribs go from a collapsed dispositionadjacent the central pole to an open disposition radiating outwardlyfrom the first end of the central pole; wherein the stretched fabricestablishes an area of cover for fish.
 14. The method of claim 13including the step of suspending baits from one of the fabric andfloatable hinged ribs.
 15. The method of claim 13 including the step ofattaching floats to the floatable hinged ribs.
 16. The method of claim13 including the step of attaching a line to the first end of thecentral pole for bringing the apparatus up to water surface from asubmerged disposition.